Loop-regulating mechanism for full-fashioned knitting machines



G. BITZER Feb. 24, 1931.

LOOP REGULATING MECHANISM FOR FULL FASHIONED KNITTING MACHINES Filed June 18, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet l mwzzvrom (fofiloigBiijei;

ATTOR-NEYS. Xx

G. BITZER 1,793,669

LOOP REGULATING MECHANISM FOR FULL FASHIONED KNITTING MACHINES Feb. 24, 1931.

Filed June 18, 1929 4 Shgets-Sheet II v via IN V EN TOR. golf lob B11342), BY

v04? A TTORNEYS.

G. BITZER Feb. 24, 1931.

LOOP REGULATING MECHANISM FOR FULL FASHIONED KNITTING MACHINES Filed June 18, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 A TTORNEYS.

Feb. 24, 1931. G B|TZER 1,793,669

LOOP REGULATING MECHANISM FOR FULL FASHIONED KNITTING MACHINES Filed June 18, 1929 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 II;- .E.

IN V EN TOR.

670mg?) ig er, BY

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Feb. 24, 193E GOTTLOB BITZER, 0F WYOMISSING, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR'TO TEXTILE MACHINE WORKS, 0F WYOMISSING, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA LOOP-REGULATING MlECl-IANISM FOR FULL-FASHIONED KNITTING MACHINES Application filed June 18, 1929. Serial No. 371,761.

My invention relates to straight orfull fashioned knitting machines, and. more particularly to improved automatic loop regulating'mechanism therefore. I

One object of my invention is to provide novel and simplified automatic loop regulating mechanism for straight knitting machines, adapted to cooperate with automatically adjustable yarn control mechanism, for effecting the addition of plating or reenforcing threads at desirable parts of the knitted fabric.

Flg. 1 1s a vertical cross-sectional view taken near the left end of a full fashioned knitting machine, having my invention applied thereto, certain of the parts being omitted. I

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front eleva-tional view of certain parts of the machine shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken as indicated by the arrows 33 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a section on line 66 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a section on line 77 of Fig. 4.

f Fig. 8 is an enlarged end elevational view, partly broken away, of a certain part of the machine shown in Fig. 1, taken as indicated by the arrows 8-8 in Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 is a rear elevational view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 8, and as seen by looking in the direction indicated by the arrow A in said figure.

' Fig. 10 is a sectional view similar to Fig.

eration of the invention have been illus trated.

The common needle bar presser mechanism,

more fully disclosed in the Melchior Zwicky .Patent #1,608,285, granted November 23,

1926, and thread control mechanism are 00- operatively combined with adjustable pattern actuating means to effect determined additional lengthening of the loops during their formation, at the points in the fabric where it is desired to add plating or reenforcing threads; such action in no way interfering with the usual loop-forming movements ordinarily imparted by the cam shaft.

The loop-regulating shaft 15, receives well known cam determined turning movements from the cam shaft 16, which are transmit ted to the pivotally carried needle-bar 17, through presser lever 18 and connection 19, to vary the position of the needlebar 17 relative to the sinkers, for the purpose of lengthcning the loops sufficiently to accommodate the yarn ordinarily laid by the yarn guide carrier bars 20. This action is more fully described in Gottlob Bitzer Patent No. 1,694,888 granted December 11, 1928.

The mechanism comprising my invention imparts additional or supplemental looplenghtening movements to the needle-bar 17 so as to increase the ordinary loop a suficient amount to accommodate a second thread, such movements being imparted to the loop-regulating shaft 15 by the mechanism about to be described.

Fixedto the shaft 15 is an arm 21, provided at its upper end with a laterally shift-able, and freely rotatable roller 22, adapted to be engaged and determinedly moved b a specially constructed and controlled radiall ex- ;pansible cam device comprising impe ling segments 23 and 24 radially shiftable on a mountingb plate or disk 25 secured to cam shaft 16 y set screws 26.

A roller shift lever 27 for throwing the roller 22- into or out of action, is pivoted on the arm 21 at 28 and is provided with a, yoke 29 in engagement with the grooved fiange 31 on roller 22. The lower end of lever 27 abuts against a stop 32 to limit its movement 1when roller 22 is shifted to its active posiion.

By referring more particularly to Figs. 6 and 7, it will be noted that the segments 23 and 24 are radially shiftable or swingable between mounting plate 25 and a, semi-circular plate 34 separated therefrom by a spacing ele ment 35. The outer ends'of segments 23 and 24 are slotted centrally'to accommodate links 36 and 37 which are retained therein by pins 38 and 39 as shown. Links 36 are held in the cut-out part of spacing element 35 by pins 40, which extend through the walls of the plate and through plates 34 and 25 while links 37 are similarly fastened by ;pins 41 extending through mounting plate 25 and plate 34. Pins 40 and 41 extend beyond the outside of plate 25, and are in slotted engagement with, and held against axial movement, bylocking plates 45 secured to plate 25 by screws as indicated in Fig. 1. I

Pins 46 are fixed in the segments 23 and 24 and extend through openings in spacing element 35, a tension spring 35a being connected to their free ends to hold the segments in their normal or inactive position.

Each of the segments 23 and 24 is provided with an anti-friction engaging roller 47 adapted to coact with one or two similarly adjustably held cams 48 and 49 loosely carried by the cam shaft 16 and adapted to shift the segments radially.

The various regulated positions of cams 48 and 49 determines the time and extent of the supplemental loop-lengthening movements imparted to the loop regulatlng shaft 15 by the segments 23 and 24. i

Cams 48 and 49 are adjacent each other, slightly separated, and loosely mounted concentrically onthe cam shaft 16 between the mounting plate 25 and a retaining collar 51 fixed tothe cam shaft, as shown 1n Figs. 4 and 7.

Secured to the cams 48 and 49 are screw studs and 52 having a ball formed at their outer ends adapted to engage in ad ustable sockets and forming universal joints 53 and 54 therewith. The cams 48 and 49 are held in adjusted non-rotating positions by' rods 55 and 56, adjustably secured to the joints 53 and 54 and connected with the double-ended arm of a bell crank lever 56a, which 1n turn is connected to the bottom end of a vertical lever 57 through the link 58.. The connections just described are adjustable and provided with universal joints, as shown. Lever 57 is 1,7ee,cee

fulcrumed at 59 on a bearing 61 secured to a frame connecting channel 62.

The supplemental loop-lengthening movements are synchronized with the laying of reenforcmg or plating threads commonly sup: plied to determined needles only, and to attajin such synchronization, I preferably control the movements of the cams 48 and 49 by the regulating screw mechanism limiting the varied feeding traverse of the carrier rods 20.

It will be apparent that by moving the lever 57 to and fro, the cams 48 and 49 will be moved toward and from each other around cam shaft 16 by the mechanism alread described. To thus move the lever 57, a lock 63 is pivotally mounted in the upper bifurcated end of the same, which slidably engages with extension on collars 65 and 66 adjustably secured to reciprocable rod 67 slidable in suitable bearings (not shown) and connected with a rod 68-through a link 69. Rod 68 is fixed to one of the yarn carrier stop nuts 71, at 72. These nuts control the special plating or reenforcing yarn carriers 20, and are mounted on a common reversely threaded spindle 73 which is automatically rotatable in either direction. Movement of the spindle causes stop nuts 71 to move toward or from each other and such action is simultaneously transmitted to cams 48 and 49 through the connections described, so that they will likewise move toward or from each other in synchronism with the nuts 71.

Two ratchet wheels 74 and 75 are fixed to the end of the spindle 73 which coact with pawls 76 and 77 to rotate the spindlestep by of said fingers into engagement with they flange of its cooperating pawl to prevent it from coacting with its respective ratchet wheel at a time when both pawls are simultaneously shifted.

Pawl 76 is mounted on a lever-83 fulcrumed on spindle 7 3, said lever being adj ustably connected b a link-anddever connection 84, 85 and 86 with a similar lever 90 which carries the pawl 77 and is likewise pivoted on the spindle 73. Thus the pawls are connected to move in unison, however only one being active at one time, and are actuated by a rod 87 connected with a lever 88. fulcrumed on a 7 bearing 89 and carrying a roller 91 engageable with a cam 92 on cam shaft 16. One end of lever 88 rests onthe shouldered end of a lever 93 which is operated by a well known pattern chain 94 provided with actuating buttons or studs 95 and 96.

Low buttons 95 are provided on the chain for moving lever 93 suificiently to disengage mes es its upper end-from the lever 88 thereby al- A lowing roller 91 to rest on cam 92 and coact therewith to cause the active pawl 77 to move its respective ratchet wheel 75 and consequently turn the spindle a step in. one direction Jvhen the button has passed, a tension spring'97 acts to return the lever 93 into ongagement with lever 88 and retains it in inactive position after one revolution of cam 92.

High buttons 96 are provided on the chain which move the lever 93 an increased amount thereby again allowing cam 92 to act asbefore, however this time the increased movement of lever 93 will also bring its upper end into engagement with, and shift a lever 98 held in the position shown by a spring 99, and fulcrumed at 100 and connected with the lower endof lever 82-by a rod 101, moving the same to disengage finger 79 from the flange 78 on pawl 76 and bringing finger 81 into active engagement with flange 80 on pawl 77. This action will allow pawl 76 to act on ratchet wheel 74 while pawl 77 will be held inactive during the pawl shift motion derived from cam 92, causing the spindle to be moved a step in the opposite direction. 7

After a high button 96 has passed, the tenv sion spring 99 will again return the lever 98 to its normal position, thereby reversing the connection of fingers 79 and 81, while the levers 88 and 93 are reset for .cooperatibn with the next button. 9

Figs. 10 and 11 illustrate a modified form of segment construction and mounting therefore. In this instance, the mounting plate a is provided with two radial grooves or recesses and in which impelling segments 23a and 24a are slidably mounted and confined by a retaining plate 34a as shown. A tension spring is mounted in a central groove of each segment and connected with the same and the mounting plate to hold the segments in inactive position as clearlyillustrated. Rollers 47a are secured to the segments as before, which are acted on by the cams 48 and 49.

It is to be understood that two or more of the loop-regulating units may be mounted in the machine at various points and operative- 1y connected with the slide rod 67 so as to reduce the torsional strain on the cam and regulating shafts. v

It is also to be understood, that the slide rod 67 may be connected with other actuating means for certain purposes, for example with one of the narrowing nuts commonly employed.

Operation When the machine is in operation, and the loop-regulating mechanism thrown in by properly shifting roller 22, the stop nuts 71 are moved in accordance with the arrangement ofthe low and high buttons on the pattern chain 94, and the cams 48 and 49 are simultaneously moved toward or from each other. As the cam shaft 16, and consequently mounting plate 25 isflrotated, the rollers 47 will engage with, and be moved radially by the cams 48 and 49, thereby causing impelling segments 23 and 24' to partially turn the loop-regulating shaft 15 and actuate the presser mechanism. During each revolution of the cam shaft 16 the .regulating shaft 15 their engagement with rollers 47, which corresponds with the varied time required'for laying the extra thread by the yarn carriers. Referring more particularly to Fig. 4 and considering that segment 23 cooperates with cam 48, while segment 24 cooperates with cam 49, it will be apparent that by movingthese cams toward and from each other the time at which segments 23 and 24 are shifted radially will be varied and consequently that the total length of time durin which'the cam 21 is held in shifted position depends on the relative position of these segments. If segment 23 and cam 48 coact, shifting of the roller 22 takes place after roller 47 of segment 23 engages and is shifted by the forward edge of cam 48, and when the forward edge of the shifted segment engages roller 22. a The arm 21 then remains in the shifted position until roller 47 drops off the rear edge of cam 48..

If the cam 49 and segmentz24. cooperate,

the latter is shifted when the roller 22 is at a particular determined point of its coacting arcuate edge, so that-the time of such shifting action is the time when roller 47 'of' segment 24 first engages the forward edge of cam 49 and is shifted radially (simultane- 'ously shifting roller 22) until the roller 22 drops off the rear edge of segment 24.

In either case, the total time of shifting is the'samefor any particular. adjustment of the expansible cam, that is, the loop regulating mechanism is operated vfor the same length of time when cam 48 and segment 23 cooperate and when cam 49 and segment 24 cooperate.

In this manner the control of cams48and position.

Of course, the automatic loop-regulatin mechanism shown and described, may be changed in various ways, and variations may be required under certain conditions, therefore, while some of the constructional details are deemed preferable and I have shown and described these specifically, I do not wish to be understood as being limited to such construction, but consider that I am at liberty to make suchchangcs and alterations as fairly come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a straight knitting machine the combination with a cam shaft and needle-bar presser mechanism operated thereby; of supplemental actuating means for the presser mechanism comprising a radially expansible cam device carried by said cam shaft.

2. In a straight knitting machine the combination with a cam shaft, and needle-bar presser mechanism including a regulating shaft, operated thereby; of aradially expansible cam carried by said cam shaft operative to actuate said regulating shaft.

3. In a straight knitting machine the combination with a cam shaft and needle-bar presser mechanism operated thereby; of a radially expansible cam carried by said cam shaft operative to actuate said mechanism during a partial rotation of the cam shaft.

4. In a straight knitting machine the combination with a cam shaft and needle-bar presser mechanism operated thereby; of a radially expansible cam device carried by said cam shaft operative to actuate said mechanism, and stationary adjustably positioned means for expanding said earn.

5. In a straight knitting machine the combination with-a cam shaft and needle-bar presser mechanism operated thereby; of a radially expansible cam device carried by said cam shaft operative to actuate said mechanism,'stationary adjustable means for expanding said cam, and mechanism for adjusting said means.

6. In a straight knitting machine the combination with a cam shaft and needle oar presser mechanism operated thereby; of a radially expansible cam device carried by said cam shaft operative to actuate said mechanism, stationary adjustable means for expanding said cam comprising a non-rotatable adjustable cam.

7. In a straight knitting machine the combination with a cam shaft and needle-bar presser mechanism operated thereby; of a radially expansible cam device carried by said cam shaft operative to actuate said mech anism, a non-rotatable adjustable segmental cam for expanding said device, and means for moving the segments of the segmental cam towards and from each other.

8. In a straight knitting machine the combination with adjustable yarn control mechanism, needle-bar presser mechanism, and a cam shaft operative upon the latter; of supplemental actuatin means for the presser mechanism comprismg a radially expansible cam carried by the cam shaft, adjustable chronism.

9. In a straight knitting machine thecombination with cooperating yarn guide carrier bars, a reversely threaded spindle for controlling the traverse of said bars, needle-bar presser mechanism, and a cam shaft operative upon the latter; of supplemental actuating means for the presser mechanism comprising a radially expansible cam, and means controlled by said reversely threaded spindle for expanding said cam. v

10. In a straight knitting machinethe combination with cooperating yarn guide carrier bars, a reversely threaded spindle for controlling the traverse of said bars, needle-bar presser mechanism, and a cam shaft operative upon the latter; of supplemental actuating means for the presser mechanism comprising a radially expansible cam carried by said cam shaft; and non-rotatable means car ried by said cam shaft for expanding said cam cooperatively connected with said spindle.

11. In a straight knitting machine yarn control mechanismcomprising a reversely threaded spindle, thread carrier stop nuts on the spindle, and pattern controlled means for turning the spindle in either direction; a cam shaft; needle-bar presser mechanism operated by the latter; supplemental needle-bar actuating mechanism comprising a radially expansible cam carried by the cam shaft; cam expanding means carried by the cam shaft; and connecting means between one of said stop nuts and the expanding means.

12. In a straight knitting machine, yarn control mechanism comprising cooperating yarn guide carrier bars, a pair of opposed stops for certain. of said carrier bars, and a 'reversely threaded spindle for moving said shaft operative upon the latter; supplemental actuating means for the presser mechanism comprising a radiallyexpansible cam carried by and rotative with the cam shaft; adjustable cam expanding means loosely carri by the cam shaft; and a pattern chain expanding means in umson.

for turning said spindle and adjusting said ber controlled bythe spindle; and pattern mechanism for turning the spindle step-by- 14. In a straight knitting machine yarn step in either direction.

control mechanism comprising cooperating yarn guide carrier bars, a pair of opposed stops for certain of said carrier bars, and a reversely threaded spindle for moving said stops toward and from each other; needlebar presser mechanism; a cam shaft operative upon the latter supplemental actuating means for the presser mechanism comprising a radially expansible cam element carried by and rotative with the cam shaft; an adjustable segmental cam for expanding the latter; and spindle controlled means for adjustabl moving said camstoward and from each ot er.

15. In a straight knitting machine yarn control mechanism comprising cooperating yarn 'de carrier bars, a pair of opposed stops 0 certain of said carrier bars, and a w reversely threaded spindle for moving said stops toward and from each other needle-bar presser mechanism; a cam shaft operative upon the latter; supplemental actuating means for the presser mechanism comprising a radially expansible cam element carried by and rotative with the cam shaft; an adjustable segmental cam for expanding the latter loosel carried by the cam shaft and concentrica y shiftable thereon; and a pattern chain for cooperatively turning said spindle and moving the concentrically shiftable cam segments toward and from each other.

16. In a straight knitting machine yarn control mechanism comprismg cooperating yarn uide carrier bars, a pair of opposed stops for certain of said carrier bars, and a reversely threaded spindle for moving said stops toward and from each other; needle-bar presser mechanism; a cam shaft operative upon the latter; supplemental actuating means for the presser mechanism comprising a radially expansible cam element carried by and rotative with the cam shaft; an adjustable segmental cam for expanding the latter, loosely carried by the cam shaft and concentrically shiftable thereon; and a pattern chain for turning the spindle to move said stops toward and from each" other and simultaneously shifting said segmental cams to coactively expand said expansible cam element.

17. In a straightknitting machine the combination with adjustable yarn-control mechanism comprising cooperating yarn gulde carrier bars, a pan of opposed stops for certain of said carrier bars, and a reversely threaded spindle for moving said stops toward and from each other; needle-bar presser mechanism; a cam shaftioperative upon the latter; of supplemental actuating means for the'presser mechanism comprising a radially expansible cam member fixed on said cam shaft; means for expanding said cam mem- In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

GOTTLOB BITZER. 7O 

